Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Sultanahmet and the Old City

Sultanahmet, home to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace, sits on the historic peninsula of the European side, about 45–50 km from Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). No airport coach goes there directly, but the Marmaray rail line under the Bosphorus stops right at the edge of the old city, which makes the public transport route more straightforward than it first looks.

Sabiha Gökçen to Sultanahmet: all options at a glance

*Road times depend heavily on traffic at the Bosphorus crossing. Bridge or tunnel tolls apply on this route.

Option 1: private transfer to your hotel door

A pre-booked driver tracks your flight, waits with your name in international arrivals and drives you straight to your hotel at a fixed price per vehicle agreed in advance. In the old city this matters more than almost anywhere else in Istanbul. Parts of Sultanahmet around the main monuments are closed to general traffic, the T1 tram runs through the middle of the district, and many small hotels in Cankurtaran sit on narrow, cobbled one-way lanes. A driver who knows these streets gets you to the door, or to the closest point a car is allowed, instead of leaving you with your luggage at the edge of the square.

A Mercedes Vito seats up to 6 passengers with luggage, and larger groups can book a Sprinter. See the fixed price on our Sabiha Gökçen Airport Transfer page.

Option 2: metro, Marmaray and tram

1. Buy an Istanbulkart at the airport metro station and take the M4 to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, about 40 minutes.
2. Change to the Marmaray and ride under the Bosphorus to Sirkeci, two stops. Sirkeci's platforms are deep underground, so allow a few minutes for the escalators up.
3. From Sirkeci, take the T1 tram towards Bağcılar for two stops to Sultanahmet, or walk up the hill in about 10–15 minutes.

The whole journey takes about 1.5 hours and doesn't depend on road traffic. If your hotel is in Sirkeci itself, you'll hardly need the tram at all.

Option 3: metro and ferry

Take the M4 to its last stop at Kadıköy, walk to the ferry pier and cross to Eminönü, a short ride with views of the old city skyline. From Eminönü, take the T1 tram towards Bağcılar for three stops to Sultanahmet, or walk uphill in about 15–20 minutes. Ferries are less frequent in the evening, so this route suits daytime arrivals with light luggage.

Option 4: taxi

Taxis wait at the official rank in front of arrivals. Insist on the meter and turn down fixed fares offered inside the terminal. The bridge or tunnel toll is added to the fare, and the total depends on traffic at the crossing. Have your hotel's exact address written down, since not every driver knows the one-way lanes around the smaller hotels, and keep some cash handy.

No airport coach runs directly to the old city. You can take the Havabüs to Taksim and continue by public transport, but with changes at both ends it's rarely quicker than the rail route above.

Which part of the old city are you staying in?

• Sultanahmet and Cankurtaran: closest to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque; quiet at night, but full of narrow, cobbled lanes.
• Sirkeci and Eminönü: the Marmaray and the ferries arrive right here, which makes this the easiest area to reach by public transport.
• Beyazıt, Laleli and Aksaray: near the Grand Bazaar and on the T1 tram line.
• Balat and Fener: on the Golden Horn, away from the main tram line; with luggage, a car is by far the easiest option.

Back to the airport

For the return, the Marmaray and M4 give you the most predictable journey time. If you go by car, allow extra time on weekday evenings. You can book the return together with your arrival on our Sabiha Gökçen transfer page.

Landing at Istanbul Airport (IST) instead? Read our guide from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet. For other destinations from Sabiha Gökçen, see the overview of all options.

Frequently asked questions